Commodore SX-64 "Executive"

As the worldu2018s first portable color computer, the SX-64 was designed to be a portable Commodore 64, with a built-in 5-inch color monitor, 5-1/4 inch floppy drive, and power supply.

Although heavy at 23 pounds, it is a very nice and sturdy system. Almost 100 percent compatible with the C64, it runs all cartridges and floppy based programs. The only thing missing is the cassette port, which is a minor consequence.

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Apple Macintosh

Except for the very expensive and unpopular Apple Lisa which came out in 1983, the Macintosh is considered to be the first commercially successful computer to use a GUI (Graphical User Interface), as seen above.

Before the Macintosh, all computers were u00c3u00a2u00e2u201au00acu00cbu0153text-basedu00c3u00a2u00e2u201au00acu00cbu0153 – you operated them by typing words onto the keyboard. The Macintosh is run by activating pictures (icons) on the screen with a small hand-operated device called a “mouse”. Most modern-day computers now operate on this principle, including modern Apple computers and most others which run the Microsoft Windows operating system.

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Sinclair QL (Quantum Leap)

Sinclair, of Great Britain, developed and sold some of the most popular home computers of the decade – the Sinclair ZX-81 and Timex/Sinclair TS-1000, each selling millions of units. They were very cheap, but equally limited and difficult to use.

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IBM PCjr

Following the success of the IBM PC business computer three years earlier, IBM attempted to capture the home market as well, with the IBM PCjr.

The PCjr was based on the same technology as the PC, and was compatible enough to run most of the software applications written for the PC.

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Apple IIc

In April 1984, Apple unveils the Apple IIc with an intense publicity extravaganza, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Priced at US$1300, 2,000 dealers place orders for more than 52,000 units on the day of its introduction.

The Apple IIc (the “c” means compact) is pretty much a portable Apple IIe computer, with its most obvious feature being its small size. It has a membrane under the keyboard to help keep dirt and contamination from getting inside the system. The keyboard provides both QWERTY and Dvorak layouts.

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Atari 520ST

The Atari 520ST was introduced at the Winter CES in January of 1985, 6 months before the Commodore Amiga. Atari did take some shortcuts, though, as the Operating System did not yet exist in ROM, and had to be loaded from floppy-disk when powered on (but then again, so did the Amiga). The 520ST also had no internal floppy drive, but later versions included it.

Bundled with an external 360K single sided 3.5 inch floppy drive, mouse and monochrome monitor, it costs $799.

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Franklin ACE 2100

The Ace 2000 series were the last systems manufactured by Franklin, and were quite attractive and well-built.

The system seen here is an Ace 2100, but has been upgraded with the addition of a second internal floppy drive.

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Kaypro 2000 laptop

Kaypro “set the world on fire” three years earlier, back in 1982, with their first and highly successful Kaypro II portable CP/M computer.

After numerous other systems similar to the earlier Kaypro II, in 1985 they release their first and only laptop computer, the Kaypro 2000. It has a very “industrial” design – black brushed-aluminum shell, and a rubber guard all the way around – the Darth Vader of laptops!

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Kaypro 2000 laptop - open

The screen is too short – much wider than it is tall. But eventually a newer version was release which had a full-size screen.

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Commodore Amiga 1000

Introduced in July 1985, the Amiga 1000 was created in part by Jay Miner, who previously designed the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The Amiga was originally designed to be a killer game machine, but it was so great that it grew into a real computer.

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Compaq Portable II

The Compaq Portable II is a smaller and lighter upgrade of their popular Portable I, with a faster CPU, and an integrated hard drive data storage system.

It is called a portable computer, but there are no batteries, you still have to plug it into the 110VAC power outlet. It is probably better described as self-contained – most people call them u2018luggablesu2018.

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Apple IIGS

Released on Appleu2018s 10th anniversary, the first 10,000 Apple IIGS computers (GS = graphics sound) have the signature of “Woz” on the front. Woz is Steve Wozniak, who single-handedly designed the first Apple computers, the Apple I and the Apple II.

The IIGS is a continuation of the earlier Apple II computer line, and is designed to be backwards compatible with Apple II software and hardware. The IIGS CPU even has built-in MOS 6502 emulation, which is the CPU in the Apple II line of computers.

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IBM Convertible PC

IBMu00e2u20acu02dcs first laptop computer is a big improvement over their earlier portable computer, the giant IBM Portable PC from 2 years earlier in 1984.

Is the IBM 5140 “Convertible” really a convertible? Yes – even the top (display) comes off.

Why would you want to remove the LCD display? With the CRT Display Adapter attached, you can use an external monitor instead.

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Commodore Amiga 2000

The first of the big-box Amigas, the Amiga 2000 is the successor to original Amiga 1000. They are nearly identical in operation, with the 2000 having much more expansion capability.

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Commodore 128D (USA)

The Commodore 128 and 128D came out in 1985, the same year as the amazing Commodore Amiga. The 128D even looks like the Amiga!

The 128 is a one-piece model, with a built-in keyboard and optional external floppy drive.
Both 128D models have an internal 5-1/4″ floppy drive, and a separate keyboard – a more professional design.

There was originally only one version of the 128D, with a plasic case and a carrying handle, but it failed the FCC regulations for RF emissions, so it was only sold outside of the U.S. This was in 1985.

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Compaq Portable III

The Portable III is a very handy, IBM compatible portable computer. Attractive and easy to lug around, it has a bright and easy-to-read gas plasma screen.

The screen pivots for a comfortable viewing angle, and the keyboard attaches to the system during transportation.

The built-in 20Meg hard drive means no floppy disks are required to run it. Sorry, there are no batteries, you have to plug it into a 110VAC power outlet.

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Apple IIc Plus

The last computer in the Apple II line, as well as the fastest, the IIc Plus was an attempt to keep the original Apple IIc current.

• Improvements include: 4Mhz CPU instead of 1HMz
• internal 3-1/2 inch drive instead of the 5-1/4 inch
• internal power supply instead of the external u2018bricku2018 power supply.

It was an excellent system, but suffered from poor marketing and poor internal support at Apple. They just werenu2018t interested any more, Apple was too busy with its popular Macintosh line of computers. ??Reprinted with permission from Oldcomputers.net

Atari Portfolio

The Atari Portfolio – worldu2018s first handheld/palmtop/pocket “PC”. The Portfolio is almost the exact same size as a VHS VCR tape. It is not, of course, the first pocket-sized computer. Radio Shack released its pocket-sized computer, the TRS-80 PC-1, over 9 years earlier, in 1980. The difference is, that the TRS-80 PC-1 is programmable only in BASIC, while the Portfolio is an MS-DOS compatible computer.

Also, 5 years before the Portfolio, Hewlett-Packard released the HP-110, their own portable MS-DOS computer, but it cost $3000 and is much larger and heavier.

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Apple Macintosh Portable

The Mac Portable is Appleu2018s first portable Macintosh computer. Although there were already PC laptops on the market, few were as fast or powerful. The Portable has a 68000 processor running at 16 MHz, comes with 1 MB RAM which can be expanded to 9 MB RAM, has an optional internal 9600 baud modem, and includes a PDS slot (Processor Direct Slot) for direct access to the system processor. This allows for faster and more powerful expansion cards.

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Atari Stacy

Atari had talked for years about having a portable Atari ST computer system, but it did not arrive until very late in 1989 – on Dec 9, 1989 the Stacy finally received FCC approval.

Originally designed to operate on 12 standard C cell flashlight batteries, this proved insuffient to operate the Stacy for an extended period of time. With 4Megs of RAM and a hard drive, 15 minutes of use was about all the life the batteries could give you. Additionally, the 15 pound / 7 kg Stacy with external power-pack is somewhat inconvenient to lug around.

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